Number of absentees increases in Oak Park schools

9.5% of students in the Oak Park Elementary District 97 schools were absent on Monday due to flu-like symptoms or illness.

9.5% of students in the Oak Park Elementary District 97 schools were absent on Monday due to flu-like symptoms or illness.

Joseph RuzichChicago Tribune

Some students stayed home to avoid getting sick, officials said

The number of absent students at Oak Park Elementary District 97 schools increased Tuesday, with many still suffering from flu-like symptoms and others staying home to prevent getting sick, according to district officials.

There were about 680 students, about 11.5 percent of the enrollment, who did not attend classes or left early at the district's 10 schools on Tuesday, up from about 563 on Monday, according to district spokesman Chris Jasculca. About 40 percent of those students attend the district's two middle schools, he said.

"Many of the students are feeling better but some have not been symptom free for a full 24 hours," Jasculca said. "We've also had about two dozen parents whose children are healthy but want them to stay home to prevent them from getting sick."

He said some of those students are "medically fragile" and have weak immune systems.

Jasculca also added that a couple dozen staff members are sick. He said the district's janitorial staff is disinfecting surfaces at the schools. Jasculca said he is optimistic that things will get better.

"I expect things to start turning around soon," Jasculca said.

Absent students will have the opportunity to make up school work, he said.

Last week, Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park sent students home early Monday and canceled classes Tuesday and Wednesday because of a flu outbreak, school officials said. Twenty-five percent of Nazareth's 730 students were absent due to illness, according to Alena Murguia, public relations coordinator.